Secretary Jesse M. Robredo of the Department of the Interior and Local Government said today that his department is implementing a comprehesive three-point agenda to stamp out the illegal numbers game of "jueteng" in the country.

Robredo cited the department's anti-jueteng strategies as better law enforcement, strengthening of the Small Town Lottery (STL) as alternative to jueteng, and adoption of measures to keep people away from the culture of gambling.

He explained that the first strategy pertains to the intensified police operations against jueteng activities, the arrest of suspected gambling personnel, confiscation of bets and gambling paraphernalia, and filing of appropriate charges in court.

"As early as July, I have directed then Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa to conduct a nationwide campaign to stamp out jueteng, as well as validate reports that the operation of STL is being used as front for the illegal numbers game," Robredo said.

In a memorandum dated July 26, the PNP chief informed the DILG secretary that all PNP units have been directed to intensify the campaign against all forms of illegal gambling particularly jueteng and its derivatives, and to submit a weekly accomplishment report to the office of the chief PNP.

Robredo also said that close collaboration with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office had been undertaken last July concerning the need for strengthening the STL project as an alternative approach to jueteng.

"I've met several times PCSO Chairperson Margarita Juico and submitted to her a number of recommendations to further reinforce the existing policies on the STL project," he added.

Some of the measures recommended to the PCSO are: STL should be operated following the traditional methodology of jueteng operations; the Authorized Agent Corporations (AACs) shall be given a fixed monthly "presumptive gross sales" which shall be included in their respective franchise provisions; amendment of STL franchising scheme with franchise awarded per municipality or city, after consultation with the LGU, the PNP and other local stakeholders.

Other recommendations include, amendment of the STL charity fund percentage sharing scheme; to ensure transparency and fairness, PCSO should conduct all the regular covered by national television; the minimum prize money will be equivalent to the jueteng winnings; and monitoring of the actual STL gross sales.

Robredo emphasized that a more holistic approach involving the active participation of various stakeholders, particularly the local government units and the private sectors including non-government and civic organizations, must be put in place to address the socio-economic aspects of illegal gambling.

To aid in these efforts, the DILG chief, as Chairman of NAPOLCOM, created a Special Project Group last week, composed of officials of the Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS). The Special Project Group's main function is to review and audit the operations of the PNP as safeguard against syndicates and organized crimes, including jueteng. ###